So many things I’m thinking about on Sunday evening… – I had a great time talking with the reporter from the Miami Herald. The story is supposed to run on Easter Sunday. We’re going to follow up with a conversation during the week. – Funniest quote of the day: a new girl to our church said to me, “Has anyone told you that you sound like Jack Black?” My answer: “You’re not the first person who’s said that.” – The legend of the rent is way past due! – We finished our “Illusions” series today. I think it ended on … Read More

We just found out that the Miami Herald is coming to do a story on our church. They’re taking the angle of churches meeting in portable facilities. They heard I was teaching a workshop at the National New Church Conference and they think it’s newsworthy. So they’ll be at church this Sunday (I know it’s April Fool’s, but this is no joke) taking photos of us transforming Cobb Theatres into a church. I’m looking forward to it. Although my first thought was, “What am I going to wear?”

Last night we had our Servants’ Appreciation Dinner and we had a ton of our faithful servants come out to an evening where we as a staff could serve them. I look forward to this night all years long. I had the opportunity to share some things that are on the horizon for us, and to remind each of us of how important each of us is in the body of Christ. It’s an incredible thing as a Pastor to be able to stand up and see the faces of many who came to know Jesus at CF and to … Read More

Despite my reference to the second Quiet Riot album, it seems to me that those with the “Gift of criticism” have come out in full force lately. I’m hearing about critical people all over the place, towards other Pastors, friends, and yours truly. While I wish I could say that I’m an expert in dealing with criticism, I’m not. I do, however, feel there is a Biblical “filter” to what criticism you allow in and what doesn’t get listened to: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the … Read More

Sunday was a blast…once it was over. It was one of those ‘hard teachings’ Sundays. This week in “Illusions”, our marriage series, I talked about sex, adultery, and pornography (I figured if I’m going to drop 1 bomb, why not drop 3?). I was amazed to hear that the CD’s were flying off the shelves. I figured the only people who would want the CD were those who hasn’t heard it and didn’t know any better. But people responded to the message. It goes to show that people don’t want a watered down message. They just want a message they … Read More

After posting about our all-staff meeting, I got a couple of emails about how we do staff meetings at CF, so I thought I’d let you all know if you’re interested. So here’s a basic order: Open in prayer Devotional Review Sunday (We ask 4 questions: What went right? What went wrong? What was missing? What was confusing?) We answer each question and a name gets assigned to each wrong, missing or confusing issue to be taken care of that week. This is also where we tell stories about the great things that God did over the last week. Review … Read More

These are the top 10 worship songs being sung in churches across America according to CCLI. Is it just me, but aren’t these songs kind of old? 1 How Great Is Our God 2 Here I Am To Worship 3 Blessed Be Your Name 4 Open The Eyes Of My Heart 5 Shout To The Lord 6 Lord I Lift Your Name On High 7 Come Now Is The Time To Worship 8 You Are My King 9 Forever 10 Holy Is The Lord

Here’s our Easter invite. We’re really excited about what God is going to do on Easter. This has been one of the greatest seasons in our church’s history. We are reaching more people than ever, and we feel like we are finally starting to run on all 8 cylinders. It has taken us a while to really discover who we are as a church (many churches start out with a crystal clear vision. Others take a little while to discover it), but the last year has just been amazing! I can’t wait to see what happens on Easter!

Last week I had breakfast with a good friend of mine and as always we came to some theological thing one of us has been trying to wrestle tot he ground. I walked away after 3 hours at Cracker Barrel thinking this is one of the most challenging conversations I’ve had in a while. I need people like this in my life. People who I can throw out an idea with and we can go back and forth. People who are thinkers rather than just repeaters. People who are reading books that others find to be “too on the edge”. … Read More

We had an all-staff meeting today that included all of our full and part time staff. It was a great time. We have a staff meeting every week (Tuesday morning for those keeping score at home), but we are moving to a format of including all of our part-time guys once a month. Over and over I have come back to the fact that you cannot over-communicate vision. When we get sick of talking about it is when our hearers are just starting to get it.